How much money have the fossil fuel industry’s powerful trade association allies spent to convince the American public that its products are beneficial and necessary – and to stymie progress on climate change that could harm its financial interests?

The trade associations spent almost $1.4 billion on public relations, advertising, and communications contractors between 2008 and 2017.

To find out, Climate Investigations Center researchers analyzed the public relations expenditures of these trade associations going back to 2008, using data from publicly-available federal Form 990 tax records. The expenditures provide unique insight into fossil fuel trade association priorities and the willingness of public relations firms to represent socially harmful industries.

Most of the trade associations we analyzed represent fossil fuel interests across different sectors of the industry, such as oil, gas, coal, petrochemical, mining, and utility companies. Trade associations spend their revenue, from members’ dues, on salaries, rent, and services such as lobbying and legal counsel, to forward the goals of the companies they represent.

Trade associations routinely utilize the “public affairs”, advertising and front group — “astroturf” — services that public relations firms can provide. Top trade associations spend millions on public relations work, some of which supports targeted or nationwide PR campaigns or funds pop up front groups that will intentionally never bear the trade association’s name or the corporate funders of that trade association.